Shabby Traveler's Notebook Folio Thingamabob - let's make something!

yeah, let's make a thing! ;)
p.s...there is a new kit on Etsy today..."Checked Out". SIX pages of glorious bookish nerdiness!
www.etsy.com/l...
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Copyright © 2014-2018 Nik the Booksmith All rights reserved.

[@robyn_roamz]

Your crafting process is wonderfully unplanned and unstructured. It has given me inspiration to go with my heart and not with my head. Thank you.

[@barboneal]

I love that you get inspiration in your sleep! So do I. Sometimes I wake up with an idea that won't go away until I do it!

[@49Nutmeg]

What have you ever made that we all didn't just love??? You're amazingly talented and I truly appreciate that you share that talent (and humor). Keep sharing and I'll keep watching.

[@Valeri4561]

Thanks Nik for being so kind to share so much. I appreciate the very cool stuff you share!!!!!!

[@dorothyjane536]

I love this. I love all that you are doing. Here it is 2022. I have read these comments and hope you realize the people your beautiful creations have touched. It is so amazing to me! I adore and take inspiration from your things as well. My kind of therapy! Thanks for sharing!

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Awwww...thank you, Miss Dorothy Jane! Your comment made my day =)

[@smchalk3535]

Among the many things I love about this, is your experimentation. you are just trying out an idea, if it works "yay" if not "sew what". I makes me feel more empowered to experiment. Thanks for your inspiration.

[@pattimcclelland6635]

I am glad you showed us your gluing process. My machine quit working and it is good to see that you can still make a great product with glue and patients. I do intend to make one, not sure on my fabric choice yet, but I can hardly wait! Thanks for taking your time, as well. It is fun to watch you.

[@barbarasnell6557]

You are so much fun. Because I'm a sewer I might use a use Wonderunder to attached the two large pieces together with the cardstock in the middle. that is an ironable interfacing. I love watching you, how you "wing" things and talk to yourself. You and Pam from Paper Post are my favorite artists.

[@joannepeyton1654]

What a beautiful fabric cover! Your vision goes above and beyond. So glad you showed us your process. Excited to try this for a journal I’ve been working on. Love the fact that you used things that were already in your craft room. Fabulous! 💜😎

[@lorifitzgibbon3085]

I love your crafting process, it's a lot like mine. This project is fabulous. Thanks for sharing it.

[@RenaMiller-u1v]

So pretty glad to see ho much the seeing adds to the look and sturdiness of the journal elements.

[@ruthhooperjournals]

Enjoying watching the old videos again....you are so talented young lady!!!

[@LE123LE123]

This is amazing!! I also love your intro!!! I think us crafty people all agree that's why we craft--to avoid doing everything else ;)

[@crab3696]

I made this today and modeled the cover like yours and it looked great! The first one took me a long time to make but the second time was faster as I used quilt batting to glue the fabrics and appliques onto the batting. Batting gives the fabric cover structure in a more natural way than the cardboard as backing. I also sewed sari silk on the inside of the cover which also reduced the time and also was a lot easier and less fiddly.

[@moonlightknitting]

I am addicted to watching these videos, Nik. You have a real artist flair with doing it all in real time, with no pattern.

[@KYATKAT]

lovely journal... I don't sew but this gave me ideas for paper projects... I'm always putting things down on my table then can't find them .. your not alone... thanks again.. 😺

[@hodgepodgecottage2674]

Nik, I Love your insert and folio! Practical and Lovely project! Thanks for Sharing All of your Wonderful ideas! ❤

[@salvagedcountrycharm-alici3216]

I know it's a few years later but I loved this so much.... I'm currently finishing up 5 of these with different fabrics. They each have a little junk journal travelers notebook. Im currently to the point of adding details and some ephemera for each of them. I actually made 6 but one for me and the other 5 will go into my etsy shop. Hoping they will do well because I love them and would gladly make more. Thank you so much for the inspiration Nik! Hugs!

[@DeerheartStudioArts]

I’m inspired to make one sorta like yours but using some sculpted cotton velvet. I’m so inspired, Nik! ✌️🇨🇦🙏❤️

[@kimtownsend838]

I saved this in my faves , and made one with dinosaur fabric for my Grandson today, for his crayons, stickers and paper for his Birthday . On the go fun 😊 Took me a while to work out all the elements to suit the project, I was watching, cutting and glueing and watching lol. Really pleased with the results. Thank you for the inspiration 👍

[@magiv4205]

"Do I wanna go to town? Do I even want to leave the house?" I'm crying at how accurate this is.

[@marlenejones6266]

I dont want to go anywhere. Just went on a weekend trip. It's too hard on me now to do this sort of thing. Now I have to get myself together for the week. I'm 70 and stuff ain't easy any more. Lol. But craft I will sometime today. Love this beautiful notebook, thingy, whatever. Wish I had some white fabric...hmmm maybe in the deep dark parts of my closet.....eeeeeek

[@marshaloneagle4646]

Love that you talked us through the whole process! I used to sew from patterns only. An online teacher taught the way you do here, presented the desired goal and let us hear how she thought it through from rough sketch to a finished project. Thank you for the great idea and memory spark.

[@dianerussell9677]

Definitely a project I will tackle. I have so many trims I need to use up.

[@QueenBeasDsgn]

Omgosh.. I'm 7 minutes into this and I love love love the idea... It is absolutely perfect for me to make for my oldest daughter... 30..and she loves those jelly pens... Hehe!!! Yep, I'm doing this thingamabob for her for Christmas, thanks Nic!!!! 😊😁😉

[@peggygrabowski2604]

I absolutely Adore this and WISH you had a pattern. I will try to make one someday! 😂

[@telenaeldridge3737]

This is so beautiful!! I love to sew and have been wanting to try my hand at a soft cover for a journal. This design is perfect!! Thank you so much for sharing your idea.

[@myporchprints-junkjournalt5340]

This is just lovely!

[@kjbuchanan63]

Such a neat way to use up fabric scraps!! Definitely a must try project!

[@cindymatthewsarrowdalearts6449]

Very pretty. Back in the dark mists of time - like maybe in the 80s - I was a seamstress. (That's what we were called back then, children. There were no "sewers" - that was where our toilet waste went!) I made everything from wedding dresses to baby layettes and down parkas to prom dresses and certainly all my own clothes. I was also a compulsive volunteer, serving on a multitude of committees from church to school to community, and personal planners were the rage. And they were expensive. $50 was a cheap one - and we're talkin a long time ago! So, being the handy sort, I did what you just did and took apart an 8x6 3-ring binder from a Bible study I'd done and used that to make my own. But I sewed, of course, all of it. And I used the binder covers, which were a flexible plastic, to slip into the pockets I'd made of the front and back covers, for "structure". I used it for years. And then just as I was starting a job as an administrative staffer, I found a brand new, unused burgundy leather Dayrunner in a thrift store for $6. I still use it. That was 20 years ago.

[@NiktheBooksmith]

"the dark mists of time" 😄 love that, thanks for watching, Cindy!

[@BarbaraUK927]

Cindy Matthews i

[@uniquewhimsy622]

Rhonda Rena I’d love to swap with you sometime. My 2 year old could use a sun hat and I make semi-precious jewelry, junk journals and travelers notebooks.

[@marlenejones6266]

Cindy Mathews I too was a seamstress or now they call them something other than sewer...is it sewist? But I always wanted to give making a book or a journal a go on a sewing machine but was afraid I would ruin my machine. Now I sew paper on it with reckless abandon and I love the feeling of freedom to work on journals making them something wonderful.

[@marlenejones6266]

@@RhondaFavors I too made clothing for daughters. My youngest was so adorable in her dresses with pinafores yep I said pinafores. Something they wore in earlier days. I made things for my youngest granddaughter and never saw her in the dress. I gave up and now sew papers. Lol i love it. It gives me freedom and fun

[@user-AnuPP247]

This is so my next project! We have a trip to Rome later in the year, so this idea would be perfect! Thank you so much and I love your commentary 😆🤗

[@sveapea72]

Woow this came up now, it's awsome sooo beautiful and the way you did it woow it's brilliant 😍🥰♥️ this i must try, thank you for sharing and really really glad this video popped up now 😊♥️. Byebyeeee 👋❤️🙋‍♀️

[@Saffirance]

What fun! Yes, it's super cute. I think I will try and make one or several for myself and for gifts.

[@sweetcurly28]

Love this Nik! You should do another thing like this! A little different but kinda the same! 😬❤️

[@jackiegfeller]

I was thinking that in one of the pockets you could either purchase or print post cards and have them pre-addressed and stamped and then you could send them from where you are at on each day of the journey. You could do all kinds of things with the post cards. I am inspired, and I usually just ruin a sewing machine everytime I sit down at one! ha. But I just might give this ago. My old... OLD... portable singer can't zig zag but my sewing does that anyway! ha. Great project!

[@punkreation8290]

Just found this in the archives Nik. Beautiful little book, I love it. TFS XX

[@valerielacey7366]

Great idea, Nik! So many uses for this trifold. Not being a sewer myself, my mind was leaping to ways to avoid it. My solution? I am going to keep my eyes open for sales on fabric placemats that I can glue together instead, using your instructions for the rest. Love all your videos/ideas, and your easy chit-chat. :)

[@betsymcgovern4204]

Nik everything looks wonderful. I wish I had the nerve to try it myself. I do not sew very much, so I might try something similar. Thanks Nik

[@cindysmith778]

I have some vintage doilies and napkins that would be the perfect fabric for this and I have been hoarding them waiting for the perfect project. This may be it!! Thank you!

[@sandiwedemeier4853]

But where's the pattern? :) I've got 6 of these drying on my table...I found 12 yards of 120" wide decorator muslin! I'm getting a head start on gifts. Thank you...this is gorgeous.

[@littlehomeinthevalley]

Those tags are perfect for little souvenirs you might pick up along the way on your travels and want to add to the journal. Love it!

[@andreamurphy7223]

I really enjoyed watching this come together. So cool...

[@janetfursdon9494]

Lovely! I especially like the fact that the two pieces of cloth are not hemmed; just zigzagged to keep it from unraveling and the two pieces glued together, with the strengthening cardstock to give structure (another cool idea) Simple (they're usually the hardest to come up with!), hard working and beautiful at the same time!! Great job!

[@audraraye9020]

I’m late to the party but I just made my thingamabob. Upsized it to fit 5.5 x 8.5 and used 2 different fabrics. Using effective thread colour matching no one can see the crazy stitching 😂 great tutorial.

[@JannGray]

I'm so late to the party....but, I'm totally making this for my niece for Christmas!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@melissashultz9448]

This popped up on my recommended list today. Absolutely love it. I love how you collaged with fabric. I have a ton of fabric and need ideas to use it. This is definitely on my to make list now.

[@jnordfors]

Adorable. I would make one of these! I’ll add it to my long bucket list.

[@sandydombal4098]

I think I will try it. I do paper crafts, scrapbooking and sewing. I hope mine comes out as cute as your did.

[@debradeanne74]

I'm going to make this. I sill be doing a road trip from Maine to California in October 2018. A traveler's notebook would be ideal. This cover is the icing on the cake. I love it. Thanks. Deb

[@sheilaforest5419]

Debbie Deanne how was your cross country road trip?! I hope 🤞🏼🙏🏽 the journey was mystical and life changing in the best ways possible ❣️❣️❣️ That trip is on my bucket list.

[@marilynmccormick3731]

I love this. I think I will try this to make a new book cover for a book I have. Thanks so much.

[@theresabray2831]

I am late to the party, but this is awesome. I will add to my make list. Think I will change emphemera pocket to pouch type. It will be easier for me to retrieve small bits. Thank you for great video.

[@urbanchili]

Pretty! I use KraftTex, denim or other kind of heavy textile for the inner part of covers like this and no glue, just sowing :)

[@irenecortez7819]

I absolutely love ❤️ this. I’m dancing like a crazy person

[@janiarosario8107]

Hi Nik! I absolutely LOVE this project!! I may give this a try as I am a novice sewer lol! But I think I can wing it 😉

[@beenice9867]

You’re so funny! Reminds me of when my best friend and I get together. Total goobers. 😂❤

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Nik I absolutely love 💕 that fabulous book thingamabob!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so clever and awesome and talented......I just love 💖 watching you work.....

[@purplepixie274]

Yes, you did it again, simple but yet fabulous all the same. Tfs xx

[@gingerbordeaux9055]

I love this because you sew exactly like I do. Totally free form!

[@marciaporcelli5885]

Hi, Nik! I’m always the last one to the party and I’ve only been junk journaling for a couple months. I decided I want to make to TN for an upcoming trip and I came across this video (after I watched your video on how to make a folio or TN-SO cute!!) Now I absolutely HAVE to make this too. I’ve been sewing since Hector was a pup and so I thought your instructions were spot on-who needs a pattern?!? You inspire me at every turn! I’m so glad you dreamed this up and shared it with us!! 😍

[@katniks92]

you are better than a morning cup of tea. So funny and so smart. Love it.

[@marysaunders401]

I love watching, listening, crafting, stitching and laughing along with you! I love your REALNESS ...authenticity... HUMOR!!! Thank you for keepin' it real and helping us realize we don't have to have it all together to make great stuff, beautiful stuff and all the things. I just discovered you through a mention by Abby at Purple Cottage Crafts.

[@MzLadyLynn]

I love this. I am going to tackle one as soon as Christmas is over.

[@karolewagnerdesigns]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this! Your process is priceless to me. I’ve been wanting to combine sewing and journals...Nik to the rescue!

[@loripinkybrown8871]

So freekin' awesome!!! I am definitely going to make one. I love your "just winging it" attitude. That is how the best creations are made. This is truly beautiful and I thank you for the inspiration.

[@tasharaeconley7274]

This is really cute!! I love how it turned out! 😊

[@turtlechelle3304]

I’m addicted to making books and wannabe TN type covers..and seeing all these beautiful stitched details makes me want to invest in a small sewing machine just for pretty papers or cover details....also kicking myself for the 2 sewing machines I’ve had given away!

[@ceciliapacheco4767]

Thank you for sharing this amazing idea. I cannot wait to go the store for some fabric and lace. This is already on my to do list. Thank you!

[@WendyThompson]

My friend, Bonnie, made me one of these using your tutorial for my 60th birthday. It is amazing - I love it and want to make one as well. Awesome!!! ❤️

[@NiktheBooksmith]

what a thoughtful gift! so glad you love it! =)

[@TeacupAndRoses]

Hello :) I don't care if I only go on a trip to the park or backyard, I want to do this and enjoy ... hahaha ... Inspiring! It's been a long time since you did this tutorial, maybe now you have new ideas for this envelope, but here is mine: There is a material in my country called `` Entretela '' (this in Spanish). well, translated is something like `` between the fabric '' ... It is a material that has a side with glue that will activate with the heat of the iron. I don't know how to say that in English. But this material makes the fabric more rigid. I think there is a type of this that has glue on both sides. Anyway. You can also add a thin felt to make the envelope more rigid ... Best regards from Santiago of Chile

[@judiehull7107]

I want to make this this is a keeper. You are a good teacher, thanks for sharing your talent with us.

[@bonnie4706]

I’ve watched this twice.. and am in LOVE with this idea! I can see making them in my future... and I have the vision with fabric in hand all ready to go! Thank you so much for the share... you are awesome! Blessings to you!!

[@NiktheBooksmith]

you are most welcome, glad it was some inspiration for you! =) -nik

[@leegoulter514]

I found it fascinating to watch your progress putting this together. The finished product is fabulous. 💟💟💟

[@UandMeGod]

I know you made this a while ago like over a year ago actually....buuuuut.....I am trying my hand at recreating this for my beautiful sweet daughter's 21st birthday tomorrow!!! Yep she's my July almost 4th baby!!! LOL Thank you Nik for all of your amazing videos and your really amazing ideas too!!!

[@TRYHEART67]

Just found your channel. What an inspiration you are. As a crafter, I’m always into more and more and different crafts.....as all crafters are. Vintage, Books, paper, collage, fabric, trinkets, fibers, and poems? Add journaling, writing and wow! Everything I love. Put all together=loads of fun. Ok, I think that will be my next project. I’ll let you know. Lol. Tfs, Vicki

[@RenaMiller-u1v]

Love seeing your 🎉thought process

[@opaldenja80]

I absolutely love that insert you created!!! Also great video!!

[@lorrainedurgee1761]

Fantastic cloth book,,, what a challenge.....but it will be a lot of fun...thanks

[@Susanna79.]

That’s awesome and i love the fact that you winged it 💜

[@ajiongjia2930]

thanks for giving us the step-by-step and easy learned, creative tutorial. I can’t wait to have a try. I like the shabby style.

[@karenpruis501]

Fabulous project and I love the cover with the doily in the corner. You are always inspiring to me.

[@brendariddle2349]

I love, love, love it !!! You are a genius! Thank you.

[@lynnharrell303]

Awesome as usual. If it wasn't 12:30 a.m. and everyone was asleep I would be digging through the fabric bins in the closets to start this. Thanks for such a great project. Love using the fabric as the base since I am a fabric kind of gal!

[@DAnnsDesigns]

Just adorable. Love how this has come out. I just found some material placemats and matching napkins with pretty crochet work on the corners of each. Didn't really know what I was going to do with them but thanks to you, I now have a pretty good idea. Thanks so much for you time and tutorial.

[@haaniemd]

Oh wow! Once again you are BRILLIANT! You are such an inspiration. You make everything look easy and everything you choose just fits!I shall definitely be starting this project soon. I can't wait to see what next you have 'off the cuff'

[@midgeberg22]

Wow! I just love your way of doing journals! I’m hooked and will be trying your way soon! Love to listen to you and the way you teach!

[@KittyTheCat919]

Just finishing up my Thingamabob! Took all day, but it was a lot of fun to make! I serched google for the pics I wanted to use and most of them come up! I found a cool ruler pic and a pic of the man who wrote the first dictionary of slang words!! Was fun! Thanks for another wonderful and inspiring video. Your the bomb!

[@yolandazepeda3116]

So so so beautiful I will try to make this. Thank you ☺️🌹

[@bonguy9710]

awesome project!! practically anyone could follow along. LOVE IT!!!!!

[@TeacupAndRoses]

;) A TIP: 21:41 you can use Eva Rubber instead of paper. It gives more security but at the same time it is a soft material (I use it for the cover of my journals) Hugs

[@teresitalamas5304]

Adorable 📒...once again I love it.

[@beatriceserrano7208]

Next week i will be going to Texas to see my family. My mother is a seamstress and i will have he help me make one. Thank u so much for sharing.

[@LindaMcClellan1016ofh]

I definitely intend to make one! I've been wanting to make a junk journal out of Traveler's notebooks and this was just what I needed to see! Gives me even more incentive!! Thanks so much!

[@kathymachen8342]

Loved going through this adventure with you! You think alot the way I do .Love it and will probably make one!!!

[@moonlitedaze5688]

I love it and hope to make one soon! thanks for sharing!

[@barbaramistrik887]

I like this idea for storing the tools of the trade better than making a "dashboard"!

[@nancyizzo2507]

I have been in such a crafting slump, now I know what I want to do. Thank u sew much for this. Love it

[@SunnysEyes]

I'm thinking about making something like this for a watercolor sketchbook with pens and brushes and a small pallet. Thanks for the idea!

[@carolyoung3164]

This is wonderful.It is just so tactile and inviting.I know you will enjoy working in it.And I had been thinking about how to make a folio of some kind....now I have a mental picture and your video.Manythanks for providing such wonderful inspiration. Carol Young

[@tammiegoodley2642]

Will definitely be making one love this idea. I have so many pieces of canvas fabric.

[@patriciagechei8145]

Beautiful! I wil definitely try to make one.

[@ljstorey1]

I love it.I would love to make one of these, but I never go anywhere. I don't even know anyone that goes anywhere. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Hugs...

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Hi Linda =) Its called a "Traveler's" notebook folio mainly because that is the size of the notebook insert. But, Im not real sure why that size is specifically called that? I certainly don't use one for traveling. I rarely go anywhere either! 😄

[@ljstorey1]

Well I found out a friend of mine is going to MA. for her first time in the fall. so I may give it a shot. I wanted to know if you have a video on the journal you used for the inside book? Thanks...